Parking Brakes
linkage.
Important Terms
Pad<ing brake
Pedal arm
Ratchet
Mu Iti-stroke foot parki I1g
brake
Vacuum release
Push-pull hand brake
Cable fittings
Cable sheath
Cable pulleys
Linkage rods
Brake mu Iti pi ier
Equalizer
Service brakes
Integl"al drum parking
brake
Retaining prong
Parking brake apply
lever
313
Lever strut
Self-contained drum
parking brakes
Screw disc parking
brake
Ball-and-ramp disc
parking brake
Cam disc parking
brake
Auto Brakes
314
the ped<ll arm cau ses it to pivot and pull up on the park
ing br<lke cable. The ped al arm is held in the applied
position by a pawl which engages teeth on the lever
assembly. This holding des ign is known as a ratchet. Th e
pedal arm is rele<l sed by pulling on the br<lke release
handle. Pulling on the handle moves <l linkage rod
which di sengages the ratchet from the teeth on the lever
<lssembly. A spring returns the pedal arm to the relea sed
position. A manua Ily rele<lsed foo t <lctu<lted parki ng
brak e ca n be seen in Figure 18-1.
Ratchet
teeth
Parking
brake cable
Warning light
wire connector
Pedal
arm
Release
handle
Driver-Operated Levers
Th e dri ve r operates the linkage through one of two
types of hand leve r or a foot lever with a pedal. Most
mod ern ve hicl es have a foot-oper ate d lever, or a hand
operated lever installed beside or between th e front
sea ts. A few ve hicl es have hand op erated pu sh-pull
levers loc ated under the da shbo ard. Some foot ped als
<lre released by an automatic device.
Cable
Return
spring
Figure 18-1. An overall view of a typical manually released foot
actuated parking brake mechanism. (OaimlerChrysler)
Chapter 18
Parking Brakes
315
~~ .
\
Multi-stroke
L_J
cable
Foot
pedal
Vacuum source
connection
Vacuum chamber
Firewall
~I~,-r~~
rf::
/':11
Ratchet
teeth
/~I
i
Nut
Manual release
lever
Brake
pedal
Auto Brakes
316
Lever
Padded handle
Push button release
Cables
Fully covered
Rubber coated
No joints
Parking
brake
Power brake
unit
..-- Push-pull parking
brake control handle
8
Figure 18-4. A-A floor mounted hand brake lever and cable assembly. B-A dashboard, hand operated, push-pull hand brake
assembly with related parts. (DaimlerChrysler, Toyota)
Chapter 18
Parking Brakes
317
sp rin g-loaded push rod inside the tube connects the pawl
with a pu sh button at the top of the lever. See Figure 18-6.
When the lever is pulled up, it pivots on the support
plate, tightening the brake cable and applying the parking
brake. As the lever moves up, the pawl will slide over the
teeth on th e support bracket. The pawl holds the lever in
place when it is applied. The red Brake warning light is
illuminated when the ignition switch is on and the parking
brake is applied.
To release the brake, the driver pulls up slightly on the
leve r and depresses the push button. Depressing the push
button relea ses the pawl from the support bracket teeth .
The driver ca n then push the lever downward, removing
ca ble tension and relea sing the parking brake. A few floor
mounted brake levers have an automatic adjustment
device. Thi s devi ce will take up any slack in the parking
brake ca bles when the lever is operated.
Support tube
A
Button
2
Turn
Press
Floor-Mounted Lever
The operation of the floor-mounted lever is simi lar to
the foot-operated parking brake. The hand lever is a hol
low steel tube or flat steel covered by a plastic sleeve
and/or leather boot attached to the floorboard throu gh a
support plate. The support plate contai ns teeth wh ich
engage a pawl in the bottom of the leve r assembly. A
Push
button
Hand lever
Support plate
r..1{)
Bolt
Pawl
Teelh
~. '~"t
~
~i'~
. ~.)
Floor
bracket
Parking brake
cabl/,
'/
/
//.1'
"10>
- ~""~.--:::::;
/ Control
'od
1_
//
,/
/
/
/
Cable adjuster
/
/
/
/
Boot
(/
I
~~~~ll>='=""".~~=:=S'" ~
~ ~
Nutl
Equalizer
Boot
Auto Brakes
318
0.50 BLK
-n- - -
~I
~~;:~F:~B~~k
K--:=:~N~-l ~~~ON
- I
. O.\I.IP
DETAilS
---iSles
0.50 BLK
11
0.508LK!
0.50 BRNi, WHT
S206
BLK
, 0.50 BlK!
I
I
I
DISTRIBUTION
_~~~
___ j
G203
BLKIWHT
- - -. . .
0.50 BLKlWHT
7 [i;,2-:,=_2-:::=_2::::_2-:~__ ~__4
r--
C2
------1 INSTRUMENT
I PANEL
'BRAKE' I -
INDICATOR I ~
SEE INSTRU!olENT
PANEL:IVITH .
g~~:,S CLUSTER
:l_______________ _____
ww-:J
0.50 REDIBLK
r-
-C~~I-
2 '
~11
-
0.50 BLK
SEE GROUND
DISTRIBUTION
CELL 14
T
BLK
II
0.50 BLK
0.50 RED/BLK
-
BLK
2.0 BLK
._ ~
SEE GROUND
DISTRIBUTION
-~
_______ J
'-----.
0.50 RED/BLK
10
iI
INPUT
.INDlCAT0R
CONTROL
PARKING:
BRAKE I
SIGNAL I
-1
l___ ~~~NE. ___~ ____ .::~ ____ J
I
BLK I
~_ \ill.!
0.50 RED/BLK
-
O.50PPUGRN
S . o B L K ! 5229
0.50 BLK!
1.25 BLK
_ _ _ ill
=:
~I
r---PowER-z------F----l
BlK
CELL 14
'1
-.
e--------1
I.----<111
~
, S232
CANADA
U:~5BLK! CA~
ADA,
1.25 BLK
BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL SWITCH
CLOSEDWrrH
LOW BRAKE
FLUID LEViL
:nu
0.50 REDIBLK
USA
5~~
0.50 RED/BLK
5 CANADA.
4 USA
0.50 BlK
!<.
[E-;;;~~;' JUNCTlON
I
DISTRIBunON I BLOCK
Il
CELL 14
______
-'I
=m.
DArnME
RUNNING
LAMPS
CONTROLLER
S..
:~I
C203
'
USA
~
BRAKE
SWITCH
CLOSED WIlli
PARKING BRAKE
ENGAGED
Chapter 18
Parking Brakes
319
Wire to dash
warning light
Pawl
Switch
engagement electrical
teeth
connector
Release lever
Support
bracket
Mounting
bolt
the apply lever to the equalizer, and two from the equal
izer to the wheel brakes.
Some cables are coated in plastic to allow them to move
more easily. If one of the cable wires breaks, the plastic coat
ing keeps it in place, so it is not likely to jam the cable.
Cable Fittings
Formed cable fittings are pressed on or bolted to the
ends of the cables. A common fitting is a round ball, cylin
der, or flat end, which installs into a slot in a bracket or
lever, Figure 18-11. These fittings allow the cable to be
attached to the parking brake apply lever and other levers
and components.
.J )
Cable
Light switch
assembly
Parking brake
cable retaining
bracket
1====:/1
lever
sheath
IV
Cable
Rear brake
cables
Support
Push
Equalizer
Front brake
cable assembly
Clamp bolts
Rotor
Figure 18-10. A floor-mounted hand lever and cable assembly used with rear disc brakes. Note that three separate cables are used.
(Mazda)
320
Auto Brakes
Cable Sheaths
Cable Pulleys
Linkage Rods
Brake Multiplier
The parking brake lever is designed so that driver
force is ali that is needed to apply the wheel brakes. In
Parking brake
ola,
~
To rea'"
Control
rod
Sheath
-.,
Cable
Equalizer
To hand or foot
generated parking
brake lever
Sheath
Left rear
brake
Figure 18-12. Brake cable sheaths as used on one parking
brake assembly (Bendix)
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
Equalizer
13
30
brakes
22
21
14
20
Figure 18-13. A hand operated parking brake which uses a cable pulley assembly (6) on the equalizer. The pulley provides smoother
operation, longer cable wear, etc. 1-lnside support attachment. 2-Rubber cover. 3-Lever. 4-Shaft. 5-Pull rod. 6-Pulley
7-Cable. 8-Rubbercover. 9-Front attachment. 10-Cable sleeve. 11-Attachment. 12-Brake drum. 13-Secondary brake shoe.
14-Return spring. 15-Star wheel. 16-Lever. 17-Movable rod. 18-Anchor bolt. 19-Return spring. 20-Rear attachment.
21-Rubber cable guide. 22-Pawl. 23-Ratchet segment. 24-Rivet. 25-0utside support attachment. 26-Warning valve switch.
27-Push rod 28-Parking brake. 29-Spring. 3D-Pushbutton. (Chevrolet)
Chapter 18
321
Parking Brakes
Input cable
This
cable
loose
/
Intermediate
cable
Return
spring
Equalizer
pivots on
tighter
cable
Input cable
This
cable
Pivot
point
Figure 18-15. The brake multiplier as used on one parking
brake control setup. The multiplier acts somewhat like a pry bar
(fulcrum). The longer the leverage, the more pulling force it will
generate. The equalizer takes up slack in the cables.
(General Motors)
Brake Equalizer
A brake equalizer is in stalled in the parking brake sys
tem to provide a balanced, or equal pull on the btake
levers. The equalizer does this by allowing th e application
cable to center itself. The equalizer is a steel bar with
attachments for the brake cables or rods. The input is from
the application cable or control rod. There are one or two
output cables. Note that the cable adjuster is usually
installed at the equa Iizer, Figure 18-15.
In operation, the input cable pulls on the equalizer,
which then pulls the wheel brake cables. If one cable
tightens the wheel brake before the other, the equalizer
will pivot on that cable, Figure 18-16. This allows the
cable on the other side to continue to move until the ten
sion on that wheel brake matches the tension on the first
wheel.
EqualiZer\
pivots on
tighter
cable
B
322
Auto Brakes
Mounting stud
Lever
locknut
assembly
./
W~
-'"\)
Heat
shield
~~
." "
~'~:~
""
(; ,
~~
~ Mounting
~ ~~
bolt
handle assembly
Bracket
spring
Front parking
brake cable
Equalizer
bracket
Clip
Equalizer
Right rear
cable
Bracket
Left rear
cable
Figure 18-17. A foot operated parking brake system illustrating the support brackets, guide clamps, and a heat shield. (OaimlerChrysler)
system are called the service brakes. Most parking brake
mechani sms apply th e service brakes mec hanically. A
few parking brakes operate separate friction linings that
are not connected to the hydrauli c system. Modern vehi
cles are equipped with three main types of parking
brakes:
Integral drum parking brake which applies the brake
shoes on a rear dl'um brake system.
o Self-contained drum parking brake used with some
rear disc brakes.
Integral disc parking brake which applies the brake
pads on a rear disc brake system.
Use of these parking brakes depends on the type of
servi ce brake used on the whee l. Most parking brakes are
installed on the I'ear wheels. A few vehicles have the park
ing brake installed on the front wheels.
Chapter 18
Parking Brakes
323
Clamp
!L
Bracket
Adjuster
locknut
Bracket
bolts
'--, Cable
fitting
Clamp bolt
Rear cable
assembly (R.H .)
N"t~
~
Rear cable
assembly (L.H.)
Adjuster
Wiring
switch
connector
'cable
Cable
Clamp bolt~
Equalizer
Bracket
Front cable
assembly
-,
Cable
clamp
Tension
spring
..
~~ '~ Adj"";ng
Equalizer
Boot
nut
'----BOlt
B
Figure 18-18. Two parking brake systems using different methods of linkage adjustment. A-Adjuster and locknut used on one side.
B-When both cables are attached to the equalizer, correct adjustment can be obtained by turning the adjusting nut. (Honda, Nissan)
the primary shoe. After the lever strut has applied the sec
ondary shoe, it cannot move any more. The parking brake
lever then pivots on the lever strut and applies additional
pressure to the primary shoe. This action is shown in
Figure 18-20.
When the parking brake is released by the driver, the
lever returns to its released position and the brake shoe
return springs release the shoes.
Parking
brake cable
Parking brake
cable
Auto Brakes
324
Brake shoe
return spring
Secondary
brake shoe
Brake shoe
retu rn spring
Lever strut
Primary
brake shoe
Parking
brake cable
Star wheel
Figure 18-20. Operation of one particular servo brake parking brake assembly. There are a number of different servo brake
styles, (OaimlerChrysler)
Primary shoe
Secondary
shoe
Parking
brake
r~~~~~~;~~~NII+--\--T~
Adjuster
rod end
Backing
plate
Chapter 18
325
Parking Brakes
Actuating lever
eccentric cam
Shoe return
spring
Backing
plate
Shoe return
spring
Backing
plate
Shoe
strut
Rear
shoe
Shoe return
,p"og'
Wheel
hub
Parking
brake lever
Parking
brake cable
Pin~
Front shoe
Star wheel adjUster.
1/
0
CfI@ ,
Caliper
bolt
~PIUg
TenSion sPring /
Shoe hold-down cup
Shoe hold-down spring
Rotor with
integral drum
Figure 18-22. An exploded view of a self-contained drum parking brake setup. The parking brake lever and strut moves the shoes
into drum contact. (Lexus)
Auto Brakes
326
Cone
seal
Caliper
Piston
Thrust
screw
Caliper
piston
Caliper
Operating
shaft
Operating
lever
A
Steel
ball
Thrust
washer
3 ball
B
Released
position
Applied
position
Lever seal
Figure 18-25. A-A cross-sectional view showing an assem
bled bal/-and-ramp unit. B-Bal/-and-ramp assembly in the
released and the applied positions. (Bendix)
Lever
nut
Lever
Brake
rotor
Retainer
Check
valve
Boot
Actuating
screw
Chapter 18
327
Parking Brakes
Piston
seal
Adjusting
spring
Adjusting
bolt
Pin
Cam
boot
Cam
Caliper
body
Piston
boot
Caliper
piston
Piston sleeve
Summary
Review Questions-Chapter 18
Please do not write in this text. Write your answers on
a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is the primary purpose of the parking brake?
2. What is another use of the parking brake?
3. The des ign of the parking brake lever increa ses
mechanical
4. A multi-stroke foot parking brake is usually used
when the rear brakes are
brakes.
5. Automatic foot brake rel eases are operated by engine
Integral drum
parking brake
Self-contained
drum parking brake
_ _ Integral disc
parking brake
Auto Brakes
(0) pulley
6. Technician A says that the integral drum parking
brake operates the service brakes. Technici an 8 says
that the integral drum parking brake operates a sepa
rate set of brake shoes. Who is right?
(A) A only.
(B) B only.
(C) Both A & B.
(0 ) Neither A nor B.
(0) cam.
(A) A only.
(8) B only.
(A) A only.
(B) B only.
(C) Both A & B.
(0) Neither A nor B.